Spiritual Resources

Although our relationship with God is unique, personal and intimate, our path toward living in and through this relationship benefits from a community around it. At times it can be hard work to “be in God” and to be supported by friends through the journey is incredibly helpful. Sometimes this means gathering with a few close friends to meditate together and other times it means going on a spiritual retreat and other times it means joining an online community that supports you in your formation.

Lent is a season designed so we can answer the pull from God to return, to that which is true about us, that which is of God within us, that which puts us in right relationship with ourselves, with others, and with God. There are many Lenten spiritual resources available, but the one I’m encouraging us to engage with this year is “Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John“. This flexible program can be done individually, or as a small…

I imagine all of us have tried meditating at one time or another and gave up, because it can be so hard to do! Establishing a routine of setting aside time and intention around being still and in the presence of God is a huge challenge for most of us — until it becomes who we are, rather than something we do. And those of us who have tried it, even ever so briefly, often experience fleeting moments of peace…

We often talk about “thin places”, where the separation between heaven and earth seems “thin” or permeable or accessible in a new way. I believe some people are “thin people” in that they seem particularly open to and expressive of the presence of God. Virginia is one of these “thin” people. Virginia was a member of our parish for years before she moved. Through her recently published book, Where Hope Blooms: The Widow’s Path to Wholeness, she offers support and…

There are some places in the world that when you step onto the property you know you are on “holy ground”. Holy Cross Monastery is one of those places. Pilgrims have come to be restored and renewed for many years here. Worship is offered often and regularly throughout the day. God’s presence is felt in the chapel, the dining room, the hallways, the gathering spaces and in the beauty of their property which extends down to the Hudson River. The…

Sometimes we want to go deeper. We want to engage in an intentional spiritual formation program to draw us closer to what God wants of our life. This can be through formation as a spiritual director, contemplative retreats, spiritual practices classes, and through resting in the company of others who want to share our journey. If God is tugging on your heart to “become more” or “do more”, then you may want to explore Kairos School of Spiritual Formation.

This online resource offers a rich variety on spirituality and prayer, calling upon the “spiritual giants” from a number of faith traditions. In their own words: “our sole reason for being is to provide an open, non-judgmental, private place for ANYONE interested in exploring spiritual issues.” There are podcasts to listen to, spiritual practices to explore, and resources for different times in your life. To check out this resource, please click here.

This online resource provided by Jesuits, walks you through simple yet profound prayers each day, touching your heart and opening up a space to ponder the words throughout the day. You can open up each step of the process, if you’d like. For instance, for the one on presence in one daily prayer, the following prayer is offered: Presence My soul longs for your presence, Lord. When I turn my thoughts to You, I find peace and contentment. Then you…

Our bishop, Audrey Scanlan, is the shepherd and chief pastor of the people in our Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. She lives into these roles in many ways, some of which are through her relationships with many people, through her vision of our response to God’s call to mission which includes everyone, through her pastoral presence to anyone in need, and through her writing. Each week she writes a blog for us, to share with us her insights and reflections, her…

Our Diocese is here to meet the spiritual needs of the people of God in our communities. One way this happens is to offer Leadership Days which are designed around transformation, the change that happens in our hearts and lives as we are touched by the holy. The Leadership Days this year will be focused on spiritual practices and spiritual direction as so many people are wondering these days, “What is God calling me to become?” or “What is an…

“Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn in books.” John Lubbock Our parishioner, Sarah Wilson, is the author of this deeply meaningful spiritual blog. I am always completely captivated by her words, for they speak not only her truth, but I believe the truth of God also. She writes on a variety of topics and always, in my…

When God calls you deeper, there is often an urgency to respond. So it was for me when I heard God’s call to be formed as a spiritual director. I was blessed to be formed through Oasis Ministries, a faithful and prayerful organization which offers year-long programs in Spiritual Direction, Contemplative Leadership and a Men4Direction which is a year-long program intended to help men grow in their faith, self-awareness, and spiritual wholeness, and annual pilgrimages. If God is calling you…

This is an online resource that you could spend months exploring! This is a great resource for those brand-new to thinking about spirituality (they actually define it for you) and for those who want to deepen their experience of the spiritual in their lives. There are e-courses to take, a daily spiritual practice to enter into, resources of films, books and art to dive into, blogs, and many topics to ponder. The material is rich and varied and worth your…